
Mike Malloy
mikemalloy@naplesbutterfly.com
July is underway; what does that mean? It’s summer in Florida? Yes, but it is also the start of the full blown butterfly season. In Southwest Florida we have a year-round butterfly season, while numbers of butterflies like Monarchs and Yellow Sulfurs will migrate, many of the same and others stay in South Florida and prosper year round, much to the delight of all those crazed butterfly enthusiasts living here.
In spring, summer and fall the numbers of these little flying flowers rise dramatically because the temperatures are warm just like they like it, and all their host plants (plants that female butterflies lay their eggs on) and nectar plants (plants they feed on sipping nectar) are in full bloom. They need at least sixty degrees to become

The Giant Swallowtail.SUBMITTED PHOTO

Black Swallowtail Butterfly.
Much of the butterfly’s natural habitat here in southwest Florida has been destroyed by what some call progress. To me building more strip malls that just lay empty is —— ——-. We all need to help replace what has been lost. Butterfly gardening is not only a great way to observe these beautiful creatures; it will also contribute to their conservation and increase their numbers.
A good location for your butterfly garden should have at least four hours of sunlight a day, not necessarily direct sun but bright light. I think that that can be found almost anywhere here in Southwest Florida. I have found full sun is almost too much for most plants, especially in the

Hollyhocks. PHOTOS BY JACKIE MALLOY
Remember

Milkweed Perrennis.
A big bonus in butterflying gardening is attracting hummingbirds to your yard. Many of the plants adult butterflies use to nectar on are also some of hummingbird’s favorite plants. Two of the most popular with hummingbirds are Fire bush (Hamelia Passion Vine.
To attract butterflies to your garden, first you need host plants. These are the plants female butterflies deposit their eggs on and they also feed the new larvae (caterpillars). Some butterflies have one single host plant, while others have several plants they will use to rear their caterpillars. Some of Southwest Florida’s most common and abundant butterflies and their host plants are:
Monarch: Milkweeds (many different varieties)
Queen: Milkweeds
Orange Barred Sulfur: Sennas (cassias)
Cloudless Sulfur: Sennas (cassias)
Black Swallowtail: Parsley, fennel and dill
Polydamas (Gold Rim): Dutchman’s pipe
Zebra Longwing: Passion Vines
Gulf Fritillary: Passion Vine
Julia: Passion Vine
Giant swallowtail: any citrus or Wild Lime
The second group of plants you’ll need in your butterfly garden are nectar plants (Plants

Alata Cassia.
Ruby Red Penta (Penta spp)
Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis)
Golden Dewdrop Duranta (repens)
Fire Bush (Hamelia Patens)
Salvias (Salvias spp)
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia puchella)
Porter Weed (Stachytarphaeta urticifolia)
Lantana (Latana ssp)
Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)
Shrimp Plants (Justicia spp)
African Bush Daisy (Euryops spp)
These are only a few of the many nectar plants and host plants that are out there.
Remember, butterfly gardening is guaranteed! Plant the right host plant for the right butterfly and they will come to your garden. Plant nectar plants and they will stay in your garden; you have everything they need. Why would they leave!! Always make sure you have enough host plants to sustain your caterpillars because most will not eat any other plant other than their specific host plant. One more thing that’s very important… NO PESTICIDES!!!!!! Remember to follow our videos on YouTube under the South Florida Plant Pickers and on Facebook under Mike Malloy.
KEEP BUTTERFLYING!!
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